Jeweller - September 2023

REVIEW
Gems
Gemmologists who changed the game:
Eduard Josef Gübelin
In the previous issue of Jeweller, we covered the life
and times of mineralogist George Kunz. Approximately
20 years before the death of Kunz, Eduard Josef
Gübelin was born in eastern Switzerland in 1913.
Like so many prominent gemmologists, Gübelin was
an intelligent and inquisitive child. Born into a family
of watchmakers, his father Eduard Gübelin Sr. was the
owner of a store in Lucerne.
As an artist that specialised in fine watches, Gübelin’s
father demanded a high standard in their practice. In
1923, Gübelin’s brother opened a small gemmological
laboratory.
With a newly opened jewellery atelier, Gübelin wanted to
ensure the legitimacy of all gemstones their craftsmen
handled.
This modest gemmological operation was the foundation
of the renowned Gübelin Gem Lab, which this year
celebrated its 100-year anniversary.
Although Gübelin was always interested in the natural
sciences, his original passions were in language and
poetry. He was eventually persuaded to study earth
sciences by his family as it was thought this would be
more beneficial for the family business.
Gübelin completed his studies in Zurich and Vienna,
including a PhD in mineralogy in 1938.
His first introduction to gemstone inclusions came from
Professor Hermann Michel at the Institute of Precious
Stones in Vienna.
Michel was a pioneer in gemmology and would
become an important mentor to Gübelin, teaching v
him the significance of the diagnostic value of inclusions
within gemstones.
Returning home to Lucerne, Gübelin served in the Swiss
Army during World War II, while privately continuing his
research of gemmology.
In the years that would follow, he was dedicated
to continuing his education and completed studies
with the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the
Gemmological Association of Great Britain, the German
Gemmological Society, the Institute of Gemstone
Research, and the Swiss Gemmological Society.
Pen to paper
In 1940, Gübelin published his first work on gemstone
inclusions – an article on distinguishing Burma and Siam
rubies in Gems & Gemology.
Eduard Josef Gübelin
GEMSTONE RESEARCHER
» Born: 16 March 1913
Lucerne, Switzerland
» Died: 15 March 2005 (Age 91)
Colombian emeralds were
of particular interest to
Eduard Josef Gubelin.
This was just the beginning of an ongoing series of
publications dedicated to sharing his ground-breaking
research on gemstones and their inclusions, including
the Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, co-authored
with John I. Koivula.
In 1953, Gübelin offered a new means of classifying
inclusions in his work titled Inclusions As A Means of
Gemstone Identification.
Gübelin described inclusions as either protogenetic (fully
formed before the host mineral), syngenetic (formed
during the growth of, and trapped by, the host mineral),
or epigenetic (formed post-host growth).
His proposed classifications of inclusions were further
developed in later publications and are now widely
adopted in the gemmology field.
Trailblazer
During his lifetime, Gübelin documented the inclusions
of tens of thousands of mineral and gemstone
specimens.
He also created the first desk-model gemmological
spectroscope, co-founded the International
Gemmological Conference and the International Colored
Stone Association (ICA), and worked as a laboratory
gemmologist at the Gübelin Gem Lab.
Where Gübelin stood apart from many other
gemmologists was his appreciation for inclusions.
He dedicated his work to a feature of gemstones
previously regarded as an unwanted blemish, and in
doing so changed the science of gemmology.
Understanding inclusions plays a valuable role in not only
in mineral identification but also distinguishing natural
from synthetic stones and even a gemstone's country of
origin. Gübelin knew this better than anyone.
To this day, the Gübelin Gem Lab is dedicated to
ongoing gemmological research in his memory, and
offers scholarships to students completing innovative
projects worldwide.
Mikaelah Egan FGAA Dip DT began her career
in the industry at Diamonds of Distinction in 2015.
She now balances her role at the Gemmological
Association of Australia with studying geology at
the University of Queensland. Visit instagram.com/
mikaelah.egan For more information on gems and
gemmology, go to www.gem.org.au
45 | September 2023